Why is a model railroad called a “pike”?
BB
Bruce;
The term pre-dates railroads, old toll roads were called pikes (as in turnpike), then the term was applied to early railroads…
A pike being a long pole to block the road at the point of the toll collection. You “turn” the pike once the toll is paid to access the road.
Interesting.[:)]
Enjoy
Paul
And you drive on the parkway and park in the drive way. Makes perfect sense.
Actually it might. The park in parkway is probably from when the major street through town had grass, trees, and benches (a miniture park) in the median (see “Its a Wounderful Life” for an example). Therefore the park is probably has nothing to do with parking a car.
My guess is that driveway originated from houses out in rural areas that were set back considerably from the road, therefore one would drive on the driveway to get to the house.
If you have ever driven on the Sawmill River Parkway, or the Taconic Parkway in Westchester / Putman Counties just north of NY City, you will know that the term Parkway is very accurate. Beautiful dramatic woodland and rocky scenery in a narrow strip with development all out of sight but just behind the trees. During the AM rush hour the other definition of park is very accurate also.
I always thought the word “pike” was prefaced with “wall-eyed”…and I’ve caught a few…
Makes me wonder also why when things are sent via a road vehicle it is a shipment and when something is sent via a floating vehicle it is cargo. Gotta love the English language!
Could’nt have said it better myself.